Category: Rumors

On June 7th, the entertainment world was stunned to hear funnyman Tracy Morgan was involved in a fatal car crash, killing one and critically injuring Morgan and others. Many originally though it had something to do with Morgan driving.

Not so. It was a WalMart employee, now revealed to be tractor-trailer driver, 35-year-old Kevin Roper who was “awake for more than 24 consecutive hours,” who allegedly nodded off at the wheel and crashed into Morgan’s limousine bus, as Morgan was returning from a show at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Delaware. Morgan’s limo was overturned by the collision with Roper’s 18-Wheeler on a New Jersey Turnpike.

Following the accident, Roper, was charged with one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto.

A rep for Walmart said in a statement that the company is “committed to doing the right thing for all involved.”

“This has been a terrible tragedy. We wish Mr. Morgan, Mr. Fuqua Jr., and Mr. Millea full recoveries,” the statement reads. “Our thoughts continue to go out to them, their families and friends, as well as to the families and friends of everyone involved, including Mr. McNair, who lost his life. We are deeply sorry that one of our trucks was involved. As we’ve said, we’re cooperating fully in the ongoing investigation. We know it will take some time to resolve all of the remaining issues as a result of the accident, but we’re committed to doing the right thing for all involved.”

Image kindly borrowed from Eden Sher’s Article: “I’ve Spent 12 Years Surrounded by Hollywood Peen. Where Are the Women Directors?”

Twenty-two year-old Eden Sher who plays Sue Heck in ABC’s “The Middle“, wrote a great article about that lack of female directors in Hollywood called, “I’ve Spent 12 Years Surrounded by Hollywood Peen. Where Are the Women Directors?” In part she wrote:

“Having women steer the ship makes all the difference in the world.

For example, I worked on a show in 2006 (another sitcom for ABC) that was created and run by men. There were only two female staff writers. All the producers were male. Every director, too. But despite the bro-heavy environment, these guys were not bad or misogynistic — in fact, they were awesome, progressive and kind. And yet nary a woman in sight.

So what was the problem? Why did this show reek of peen? It wasn’t because of some deep-seated aversion to women in the workplace. Rather, the problem was that these guys seemed to only hire people who were exactly like them: guys. And while working with what’s comfortable and familiar is all well and good, if your goal is to create an honest story about men and women interacting with one another — as was the aim of this particular show — you’re definitely going to miss the mark if you don’t have any input from a real, live female.

The show was canceled after twelve episodes”.

Well, now there’s some hard data to back her position and many more under employed women in the film industry.

A new study by Martha M. Lauzen, Ph.D. has been published that maintains the “Celluloid Ceiling” still exists for women working behind the scenes in Hollywood and it’s gotten worse.

In 2011, women comprised 18% of all directors, executive producers,producers, writers, cinematographers,and editors working on the top 250 domestic grossing films. This represents an increase of 2 percentage points from 2010 and an increase of 1 percentage point from 1998 (see Figure 1).

Women accounted for 5% of directors, a decrease of 2 percentage points from 2010 and approximately half the percentage of women directors working in 1998.

The following summary provides employment figures for 2011 and compares the most recent statistics with those from previous years.

Findings This study analyzed behind the scenes employment of 2,636 individuals working on the top 250 domestic grossing films (foreign films omitted) of 2011.

“What needs to happen is to continue to forge the new paradigm, as evidenced by Kathryn Bigelow’s masterful direction, and allow women to express themselves beyond the female-centric and family fare. On an executive level, I think we are doing that, as for years we have been seeing high-powered women that are killing it. Sherry Lansing, for example, ran Paramount Studios for years and has forged the way for many others.”

It’s no surprise to any of us women in other non-Hollywood markets that this is the case. Even in filmmaking communities where I live, even though, they say they are an ‘equal opportunity employer’. If the job is in the film industry and it’s not in Craft Services, you can bet they are not….

What’s your feeling…? Film industry Men or Women…I’d love to know your thoughts.

For the complete and very excellent article by Eden Sher, please click Here.

Co-Hosts Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler will have a star studded line-up of presenters to join in the fun for the 71st Annual Golden Globes tonight. With a special shout-out to Deadline.com – Here is the full list of presenters:

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the first president born in the 20th century to become president during his time and the youngest elected president to date.

Miley Cyrus ‘Twerks’ with Robin thicke at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards

Updated 2:04PM, EST, Monday August 26,2013

If you’re reading this blog, that means you just finished watching the MTV Video Music Awards 2013 and you, the little ‘MoonMan” and a whole lot of folks may be having a meltdown after witnessing the shenanigans of 20 year-old ex-Disney mega-star Miley Cyrus.
Dan Isett, PTC’s Director of Public Policy, The Parents Television Council (PTC)

“MTV has once again succeeded in marketing sexually charged messages to young children using former child stars and condom commercials — while falsely rating this program as appropriate for kids as young as 14. This is unacceptable.”

It’s not the best news to the ears of Batman fans. But you know we’re all going to rush to the box office to see it. Academy Award® winner Ben Affleck has been cast as the new Batman in the “Man of Steel” sequel, according to a statement released by Warner Bros. just after last month’s San Diego Comic-Con International.

The announcement follows weeks of speculation about who would don the Dark Knight’s cape in the Batman-Superman film currently titled “Batman vs. Superman“.

Greg Silverman, Warner Bros. President of Creative Development:

“We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular superheroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”

Episode 3 plans to directly deal with the circumstances around actor Cory Monteith’s death but Reilly didn’t specifically say that the character dies of an overdose.

“The third episode will deal with the Finn Hudson character being written out of the show. That episode will deal directly with the incidents surrounding his death and drug addiction … Ryan Murphy is going to film PSAs with the cast, as cast members, as friends of his, they’re going to speak directly to the audience.

Apparently portions of a “fake movie” made in 2011 in the UK whereby “producers” told investors they had signed up A-list Hollywood and UK actors was a complete fraud. Parties involved were sentenced yesterday in England.

“A Landscape of Lies” really was a Landscape of Lies to defraud the British Government of VAT Tax Dollars

Andrea McLean, 43, TV presenter and the star of the UK’s “Loose Women”, was tricked into starring as a bisexual therapist in a low-budget film as part of an elaborate scheme for tax breaks. McLean was cast alongside former EastEnders actor Marc Bannerman for a movie called “A Landscape Of Lies“.